Cover Story
The 70 comedians of the second annual Orlando Indie Comedy Fest want to leave you laughing
Last year, the Orlando Indie Comedy Festival brought out more than 800 people to venues across the city for a four-day celebration of stand-up that packed houses. While it was a shining moment for a local comedy scene that has gone from budding to blooming, perhaps the most important thing about the festival was the…
Floridians spend more of their income on rent than Californians and New Yorkers, says study
A new study suggests that Floridians are spending way too much of our paychecks on rent. According to a study by Make Room, 30.3 percent of Floridians spend half of their monthly incomes on rent, making Florida the most “rent-burdened” state in the country, beating out high rent states like New York and California. Although…
25 free concerts this week in Orlando (10/7-10/13)
Wednesday, Oct. 7 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Imperial’s Acoustic Soundcheck with Lauren Lester 9 p.m. at the Imperial at Washburn Imports, 1800 N. Orange Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. Thursday,…
Hash browns, McGriddles left off McDonalds’ all-day breakfast menu
We all thought today would be the Day the Drive-Thru Stood Still, but we were wrong. Dead wrong. Today, McDonald’s stores started serving breakfast all day, and what we thought was that meant that the entire breakfast menu would be served all day. This, we’ve now learned, is not the case. Way to bait-and-switch, Mac-Doh!. About…
Florida could pay you $200,000 for shooting someone and claiming self-defense
Like the sunburned tourists or lovebugs that seasonally plague us, Florida’s reputation as the Gunshine State isn’t going away, especially with two new bills filed for the 2016 Florida legislative session. Filed by Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, and Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park, House Bill 169 and its companion bill Senate Bill 344 would shift…
Kissimmee’s Cypress Cove makes Thrillist’s list of top nudist resorts
This week listicle-blog Thrillist released its list of America’s Great Nudist Resorts, and longtime Kissimmee favorite Cypress Cove Resort, in business since 1964, topped the list. Praised for its landscaped grounds and beach, the blog also gives Cypress Cove props for giving new visitors, “nudist etiquette training based on the AANR’s (American Association for Nude…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was reportedly contacted by Orlando City for possible transfer
Less than a week after showing interest in Cristiano Ronaldo, Orlando City is now in talks with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic. According to MLSSoccer.com, Orlando City is hoping to add the Swedish striker to their 2016 roster. Back in July, Ibrahimovic told Yahoo News that he was interested in finishing his career in the U.S. “I…
Universal’s NBC Sports Grill and Brew may open today at CityWalk
Steven Jayson, the corporate executive chef at NBC Sports Grill and Brew, sent a out a tweet Monday stating that the restaurant will open its doors Oct. 6. The tweet, which has since been deleted, said “We are ready! 5:00pm tomorrow we open NBC SPORTS GRILL AND BREW. Can’t wait.” More than likely, Universal’s…
A bear attacked an Orange City man after killing his dog Monday night
Orange City resident Alan Bryant lost his dog after a backyard battle with a bear Monday night, Oct. 5. Bryant told WFTV that he let his 2-year-old Yorkie named Tigger outside to go to the bathroom, when the dog started barking at something in the backyard. “Just about the time my [motion] lights came on…
Topgolf is coming to Orlando, which is good news even if you’re terrible at golf
While many golf courses are struggling to stay open across the U.S. there’s a new golf company that seems to be booming, and its next big market is Orlando. Topgolf is best understood as a mix of a driving range, a high-end bowling alley (like Kings Bowl, Lucky Strike, or Splitsville) and an adult-focused arcade…
Universal Studios Orlando raises parking fees to $20
‘Tis the season for rising entertainment prices, as Universal Studios rings in Autumn with a $3 increase in parking fees. General parking costs have risen to $20 from $17, according to the Universal Orlando Resort website. Florida residents still receive free parking after 6 p.m., and parking is free for everyone from 10 p.m. to…
Orlando teen nearly burned to death after attempting YouTube ‘fire challenge’
An Orlando teen is on life support after he doused himself in rubbing alcohol and had a friend set him ablaze with a match Monday evening. The boy, 15-year-old Robert Seals, is currently in intensive care at Arnold Palmer Hospital, reported WPLG Miami. Orange County deputies told the station that he had burns on over…
You can now own a large chunk of the Mills 50 neighborhood for $2.9 million
If you have the means, and you’re itching to lord over Mills 50 with an iron fist, for a cool $2.9 million you can now purchase a significant chunk of real estate in the heart of one of Orlando’s hippest and trendiest neighborhoods. A screamin’ deal. So, what does $2.9 million get you in today’s…
Worth the Drive: III Points Festival in Miami
III Points Festival 5 p.m. Oct. 9-12, at Wynwood, Miami, iiipoints.com, $99 Drive time: approximately 3.5 hours Why: A better question would be why not? The lineup is absurdly enticing, featuring a gushworthy array of magnetic performers like King Krule, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Panda Bear, Toro y Moi, Run the Jewels, Ghostface Killah + Doom,…
Random Encounter’s 10th anniversary proves that nerds can party too (Backbooth)
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND The recent Random Encounter 10th anniversary show (Oct. 3, Backbooth) was proof that the nerd scene is a juggernaut in this city. The energized turnout made the affair less like a typical concert and more like a mini con – costumes, props, social awkwardness and all. I’m not gonna beat up too…
Lee & Rick’s Oyster Bar celebrates 65 years with 2-4-1 oyster buckets
One of Orlando’s most venerated dive spots, Lee & Rick’s Oyster Bar, is celebrating its 65th birthday this week, and to kick off the celebration, they’ll be offering two-for-one buckets of shuck-your-own oysters 4-10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 6-7. Those two buckets will cost you just $25.95. Sidle up to the 50-person bar, claim…
Disney ‘leaks’ dates for its new Star Wars event coming to Disney Hollywood Studios
We’ve known since D23 in August that Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be featuring a new Star Wars-themed festival in the coming months, and now, in what some are calling a “leak,” Disney has revealed the dates. The Disney Parks Blog posted information regarding the upcoming Season of the Force event at Disneyland Anaheim but gave…
Danger! Danger! Electric Six amps up the crowd at Backbooth this week
Get ready for a stupid fun show at Backbooth this week when Detroit’s Electric Six brings their high-voltage set to town. The goofy snarl of absurd lyrics over genre-blending tunes like “It’s Horseshit!” off 2014’s Human Zoo almost distract from the new wave grooviness underlying them. It’ll be an entertaining romp, especially if they invoke…
Maddey’s Craft & Cru to open in Bumby Arcade
Looks like Maddey’s Craft & Cru, the long-awaited concept by talented local chef Jason Schofield (of the now-closed Wolfies Pizzamia and current This N That Eats), finally has a place to call home. Maddey’s will move into the space previously occupied by Chicago’s Stuffed Pizza on Church Street in the Bumby Arcade. The space also…
Libertarian Party of Florida chairman resigns, accuses candidate of goat sacrifice and eugenics
The chairman of the Libertarian Party of Florida, Adrian Wyllie, resigned from his post this week because the party’s executive committee was unwilling to oppose the party’s only candidate for U.S. Senate, Augustus Sol Invictus, the News Service of Florida reports. According to the News Service, Augustus Sol Invictus means “Unconquerable Sun God,” but Politico…
14 tasty festivals in October that foodies won’t want to miss
What it is about October that attracts all the foodie festival planners? We’re not sure. All we know is, Halloween is just the sugary crown to a month full of good eating. Here are 14 foodie festivals all happening this month: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival through Nov. 16 Epcot 200 Epcot Center Drive,…
Jacksonville man holds Guinness World Record for largest collection of fossilized poop
Jacksonville resident George Frandsen now owns the Guinness World Record for largest private collection of fossilized poop. But this isn’t just any old poop. These are coprolites, and the organic matter they contain can give scientists new insight into the lives of long-extinct dinosaurs. “People hear about poop and they joke and they laugh and…
University of Florida invites rapper Lil B to football game, doesn’t want to be cursed
The University of Florida invited rapper Lil B to a home football game yesterday via Twitter, because obviously the Gators would prefer not to be cursed by The Based God. @UF love you and Florida – Lil B — Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) October 1, 2015 Yessir. Come on down to the #Swamp any…
Don your best duds to add to the well-dressed crowd at Dapper Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Fashionistas and gentlemen unite! Taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Dapper Day is a chance to celebrate your personal sense of style while enjoying your day at one of Disney’s theme parks. Thousands meet up at Disney locations every year to show off impeccable outfits complemented by perfectly chosen accessories. No official dress code is…
Brand Nubian and Nice & Smooth deliver a lesson in old-school to Gilt Nightclub
Growing out of the Five Percenter movement in the late ’80s, Brand Nubian’s debut album, One for All, packed an empowering punch with a message of strength and positivity rapped over plenty of James Brown samples. The original lineup – Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar – reunite for an old-school hip-hop bill at…
The German American Society’s annual Oktoberfest celebration brings a bit of Bavaria to Casselberry
Beer, beer and more beer is in store for all those who trek out to Casselberry today for Central Florida’s “most authentic” Oktoberfest. The German American Society will have quality German beers like Hofbräu flowing like a river at this all-day event. There will be two bars at the venue slinging drinks – one inside,…
OrlandoiX showcases interactive technology at the Orange County Convention Center all weekend
The Orlando Interactive Experience, also known as OrlandoiX, is the chance we’ve been waiting for to get our tech on. The international digital festival runs for five days, from Oct. 2 to Oct. 6, with conferences about the latest technology, exhibitions, speakers, entertainment and a chance to network. Highlights include an opening party on Friday…
The full video of yesterday’s shootout in Winter Park is absolutely terrifying
A video of yesterday’s shootout in Winter Park, involving two burglary suspects and Seminole County Sheriffs deputies, was recently released. The video, which was uploaded to LiveLeak on Oct.1, was shot with a cellphone by an unidentified civilian stuck in traffic at the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Aloma Avenue. “Oh my god, they’re shooting everybody!” he…
Worth the Drive: Beach House in Atlanta
Beach House 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, thebuckheadtheatre.com, $25 Drive time: approximately 6.5 hours Why: The haul to Atlanta is always a hard sell, but Sub Pop darling Beach House won’t be gracing Florida with their lush 2015 release Depression Cherry, which is a return to their earlier more subdued melodic…
UCF student’s hummus company to be featured on Shark Tank tonight
Imagine a world where ranch dressing is only 30 calories per serving, and hummus comes in flavors like Bombalicious Buffalo Wing. Jesse Wolfe, a 28-year-old UCF student, is making this low-fat fantasy a reality with his start-up company O’Dang Hummus which has been racking up accolades and awards since the company was founded in 2013.…
Circuit judge denies injunction to stop Florida’s bear hunt
Circuit Judge George Reynolds will not stop Florida’s first black bear hunt in more than 20 years. Environmental groups, including members of Speak Up Wekiva, traveled to Tallahassee today to testify in an emergency hearing asking the court to stop the hunt. But the judge ruled that the hunt can take place as scheduled. Speak…
OPD officials fired after rupturing a prisoner’s spleen and ignoring medical requests
An Orlando Police Department officer and sergeant were fired after an excessive-force investigation by the agency found they left an inmate screaming in pain for almost two hours. In 2014, Robert Liese was arrested by Officer Peter Delio for not paying his bar tab and taken to an OPD substation on Washington Street. Liese was…
Legendary first-wave Oi! band Sham 69, or something like it, brings out the bootboys (Backbooth)
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND It’s big news any time a legendary first-wave Oi! band comes to play your town. When it’s Sham 69, however, things get a little shaded. You see, they’re one of those bands with a convoluted and contentious history involving infighting and shifting alliances that has resulted in multiple touring groups claiming the…
Orlando City says they’re targeting Cristiano Ronaldo
Orlando City is hoping to bring Real Madrid star and Ballon d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo to Central Florida. The MLS club’s majority leader, Flavio Augusto Da Silva, recently told Marca that the “greatest player in the world” is his main target. “Hopefully, we can sign him for this upcoming season. We’ve always heard that he’d like…
Burt Reynolds, America’s spirit animal, added to Spooky Empire
While Spooky Empire has largely been a horror-centric con for its 13 years, the annual celebration of the strange and scary has secured an appearance by living legend Burt Reynolds for this year’s iteration. The iconic actor will be available for meeting and greeting on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, of the convention,…
Florida patients suffering from chronic pain and illness are having problems getting prescriptions filled
Susan Langston wiped away tears as she spoke of a 40-year-old woman who had struggled with cancer for a decade before a Fort Myers pharmacy refused to fill a prescription for pain medication. The prescription was rejected because it was written by a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, a facility 100 miles away from the…
Worth the Drive: The Jesus and Mary Chain in Miami
The Jesus and Mary Chain 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Olympia Theater, Miami, olympiatheater.org, $40-$75Drive time: approximately 3.5 hours Why: This ridiculously appealing show features the finessed and feedback-obsessed Jesus and Mary Chain playing their greatest hits, followed by a start-to-finish live performance of the 1985 album that changed everything in imaginative art pop…
Texas woman sues SeaWorld and Orlando Sentinel for leaking her phone call
SeaWorld Entertainment and the Orlando Sentinel are included in a list of people being sued by an anonymous Texas woman for allegedly leaking a wiretapped phone conversation. Filed last week under the name “Jane Doe” in Texas, the woman alleges SeaWorld purchased a video recording of a “personal and sensitive” phone conversation between her and…
Morimoto Asia now open at Disney Springs; Iron Chef says his favorite chef is “ME!”
Hey Miami, sorry to hear of the closing of Morimoto South Beach today, but you’re always welcome to make the 200-odd-mile drive up to Disney to experience Morimoto Asia, which just so happens to open … today. Celeb/Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s latest is a slick two-story behemoth that really seems out of place in touristy…
An Orlando bar is giving away free beer until UCF wins a football game
The UCF Knights are off to an 0-4 start, and apparently the only way out of this slump, specifically for bars desperate for football fans, is bottomless beer. The Basement is currently running a “Free beer until UCF wins” promotion during all UCF games. That’s right, from kickoff to whistle, FREE BEER! So far this season…
See six spooky tales for the price of one at ‘Realms of the Untold’ at the Venue
The latest show from Orlando actor-writer-dynamo Corey Volence is an anthology of six short, spooky tales. (Heads up! It’s the first day of October and everyone is going to try to scare you for the next 31 days.) Realms of the Untold is not in the “gorefest” or “startle-jump” camps, though; it’s written in the…
5 seasonal cocktails to get you ready for fall in Orlando
As we anxiously await the cooler months here in the Sunshine State, it’s a little too early to truly celebrate the seasonal shift with boots, scarves and bonfires. However, that won’t stop us from toasting with fall-inspired libations around town. Here a few of our favorite seasonal cocktails available right now in the Orlando area. …
Kick off Halloween month at Fairvilla’s sexy party, Carnivale de Fairvilla, and kiss a pug while you’re at it
If you’re in the mood for adult fare, drop by the Carnivale de Fairvilla, a sexy Halloween party hosted in Orlando’s own eponymous adult-novelty megastore. Sip on complimentary cocktails while your fortune is told at Psychic Alley, try your hand at conjuring ghosts in a vape cloud competition or find true love at the Pug…
‘Finders Keepers,’ an odd doc about a man’s missing leg, opens at Enzian on Friday
Finders Keepers ★★★ John Wood has a bone to pick with fellow North Carolinian Shannon Whisnant: his own. Through a bizarre set of circumstances, Whisnant came into possession of Wood’s amputated left lower leg, and, in a moment that would embarrass even Jerry Springer, is seeking to profit from the display of said appendage. But…
A Winter Haven man survived this horrific car crash Tuesday night
Carlos Pino, an unbreakable Winter Haven resident, survived a horrific car crash Tuesday evening, in which his car hit a tree and split in two. According to the Winter Haven Police Department, the 20 year-old was wearing his seatbelt and traveling west along Cypress Gardens Blvd on Sept. 20 at approximately 6:48 p.m., when he…
Mercury Prize-winners alt-J set to play at Hard Rock Live
With their debut in 2012, the alluring patter of alt-J’s folk-driven electronic pop compelled a rabid fan base and won the band accolades with the dainty emotional progression they conjured on lead single “Matilda,” which was a little more subtle but just as powerful as Bon Iver’s smash hit “Skinny Love” five years earlier. Alt-J…
Selections: Our picks for this week’s best events, Sept. 30-Oct.7
Wednesday, Sept. 30 alt-J MUSIC With their debut in 2012, the alluring patter of alt-J’s folk-driven electronic pop compelled a rabid fan base and won the band accolades with the dainty emotional progression they conjured on lead single “Matilda,” which was a little more subtle but just as powerful as Bon Iver’s smash hit “Skinny…
Three Orlando chains that don’t suck
Red Robin 8167 International Drive, 407-574-2295, redrobin.com; $$ For years, we’ve heard the “Red Robin … YUMMMMM!” jingle on Central Florida television, but we’ve been deprived of those bottomless fries until just recently with the opening of the I-Drive 360 complex in May. Now, along with a slew of other chain restaurants in the area (because tourists…
10 tasty Orlando lunches under $10
It’s another edition of our monthly cheap-eats roundup. A tasty lunch shouldn’t cost more than $10, so every month we give you 10 suggestions. Got one for us? Send nom-nominations to jyoung@orlandoweekly.com. Bento Café multiple locations, bentocafesushi.com Choose a presentation (bento box, noodle bowl or over rice), choose a preparation (there are dozens) and choose…
Opening in Orlando: Finders Keepers, Legend, Sicario, The Martian and The Walk
Finders Keepers Here’s one you won’t see on Storage Wars: A severed human foot is found in a storage unit, and its owner battles to get it back from the guy who won it in an auction. With music by Gang Green? As if you didn’t hope. (R) Legend English gangsters the Kray twins have…
Annual South Asian Film Festival brings five features to the Enzian
If Bollywood musicals are all you associate with Indian cinema, it’s time you headed for the Enzian Theater’s South Asian Film Festival, which dispels cinematic stereotypes by embracing all aspects of Indian and Pakistani culture. The festival turns 21 this year and will feature five films Oct. 3-5. Co-presented with the Asian Cultural Association, the…
Pepe’s Cantina moves to Hannibal Square, Ten 10 Brewery grand opening and 14 new restaurants
OPENINGS:Morimoto Asia opens Sept. 30 in Disney Springs. Also at Disney Springs, the Indiana Jones-themed Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar has opened … Peperoncino Pizzeria, by Peperoncino’s Barbara Alfano and Danilo Martorano, has opened in Dr. Phillips … After closing in Hunter’s Creek, the All-Italian Market has re-opened on West Osceola Parkway … Cork & Fork…
Music updates around town: ARK, III Points, Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival and more
The latest songs from local lo-fi psych adventurers ARK demonstrate how redemptive trusting your gut can be. Begun as a three-piece called Like Diamonds in 2013, the band’s namesake and multi-instrumentalist Ark Calkins decided to incubate and reinvigorate his songs through solo explorations that really benefited from the songwriter’s thoughtful tinkering. Now a five-piece band,…
KEN Mode pokes fun at notions of ‘making it’ on Steve Albini-steered release Success
Some find what they term as success, tuck a napkin into their shirts and gorge on that glorious fulfillment for the rest of their days. Others arrive at the destination only to find their stomachs still growling. For KEN Mode, a fierce Winnipeg trio that thrashes with refinement through noise-rock, heavy metal and progressive music,…
Picks This Week: Jose Gonzalez, MC Lars, Acoqui and more
alt-J With their debut in 2012, the alluring patter of alt-J’s folk-driven electronic pop compelled a rabid fan base and won the band accolades with the dainty emotional progression they conjured on lead single “Matilda,” which was a little more subtle but just as powerful as Bon Iver’s smash hit “Skinny Love” five years earlier.…
Five ways European attractions do it better
Between Halloween Horror Nights and Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival – not to mention the relatively non-brutal weather – September is by far my favorite time in Orlando. But for the first time in almost 20 years, I’ve missed out on the entire month in order to take a six-nation tour of Europe. While I’m…
Savage Love (9/30/15)
I’ve been dating this guy for almost two months. It’s been pretty good, except the sex isn’t really the best. I have this other male friend who has had a crush on me. Long story short: My friend made a move on me the other night. I told him I couldn’t, and he knew why,…
Free Will Astrology (9/30/15)
ARIES (March 21-April 19) The next seven weeks will NOT be a favorable time to fool around with psychic vampires and charismatic jerks. I recommend you avoid the following mistakes as well: failing to protect the wounded areas of your psyche; demanding perfection from those you care about; and trying to fulfill questionable desires that…
Gimme Shelter (9/30/15)
Orange County Animal Services has a purring machine available for adoption. Meet Michelangelo (Animal ID: A329867), a friendly 1-year-old cat who will purr the minute you pet him. He loves attention, and he’s one of the most affectionate cats you’ll ever meet. Michelangelo is also a curious kitty who loves to watch everything around him.…
This Little Underground: Lydia Lunch blitzes Orlando
Lydia Lunch, of all people, did a tour of Orlando recently. As a major figure in the NYC scene in the late ’70s – back when there was a true, paradigm-shattering frontier there – her name is engraved in some of the American underground’s most venerated halls. To launch the Orlando run of her exhibition…
Living national treasure Padgett Powell comes to Orlando to teach us about Southerntude
The fine minds behind the Burrow Press family of products have been bringing fiction to the people of Orlando for five years now, by publishing books, commissioning anthologies, editing an online literary journal, broadcasting a radio show and presenting a quarterly literary series. Five years is a nice round number, deserving of a fitting birthday…
Lulu Eightball (9/30/15)
Related Stories
Global Peace Film Festival hopes to use movies to make change
Watching movies doesn’t have to be an idle pastime. In fact, the organizers of the Global Peace Film Festival want it to be a revolutionary one. This annual festival of short films, features and documentaries hopes to inspire audiences to action, using movies as a catalyst for change. Whether it’s the tale of a community…
This Modern World (9/30/15)
Related Stories
